As part of the month-long “Poshan Maah” activities, district offices of the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) under the Social Welfare department conducted anaemia screening camps and awareness programmes on menstrual hygiene. At the programme, anaemia screenings were conducted and adolescent girls and women were sensitised on the importance of menstrual health and hygiene.
In Dimapur, CDPO Dimapur (R) organised an anaemia screening camp in collaboration with Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) department on September 16, at Diphupar B Wellness Centre.
In a press release, office of the CDPO informed that the medical team was led by community health officer (CHO) Visielhounou, who was accompanied by two ANMs.
A short programme was held before the screening camp, which was chaired by supervisor Dimapur (R) Akumlila Yaden.
At the programme, Visielhounou briefed the participants about the cause of anaemia and the importance of haemoglobin test.
The programme ended with a vote of thanks from supervisor, Dimapur (R) Rongsentula Pongen.
The participants at the camp included lactating mothers and around 50 adolescent girls for screening from St. John Higher Secondary School Diphupar.
Phesama: Office of the CDPO Kohima (Urban) organised “anaemia camp-cum-awareness programme on menstrual hygiene” for adolescents on September 13, at Nagaland Police Central School, New Reserve, Phesama, under Kohima district.
The programme was organised in convergence with the Medical department, Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) Porterlane and Childline Kohima.
In a press release, CDPO Kohima (urban) ICDS project, Reyivolu Kezo informed that resource persons for the programme were—Childline Kohima, Neingu Kulnu, Kohima district Poshan coordinator, Sohile Tep and MO UPHC Porterlane, Dr. Aomeren Longkumer.
Neingu Kulnu spoke on the rights of children while Sohile Tep spoke on the nutritional needs of adolescence. She emphasised on the importance of consuming balance diet and how it impacted both the present and the future.
Dr. Aomeren Longkumer spoke on anaemia in adolescents, on what anaemia was, its symptoms and its impact in an adolescent’s life.
He also emphasised on the importance of receiving medication at the right time.
The second session was an awareness programme on menstrual hygiene by staff nurse from UPHC Porterlane, Odonglemla.
During the anaemia screening, 80 adolescents, teachers and others were tested, out of which 15 were found to be moderately anaemic. Free IFA tablets were issued to those who were anaemic and random sugar testing was also performed by the medical team.
Deworming medicines were also distributed to the school authority to be given to the students while sanitary napkins were distributed to all the adolescent girls.
The programme was led by Reyivolu Kezo while invocation was offered by Eziza Sumi M.Th.
Chiephobozou: Chiephobozou Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) project in convergence with H&FW and DoSE organised an awareness camp for adolescent girls & women on menstrual hygiene and anaemia screening camp at DBs court, Chiephobozou on September 13.
In a press release, CDPO Ajongla Temjen stated that EAC Chiephobozou Vitoka Yepthomi in the keynote address, highlighted the importance of Poshan Maah celebration.
He stated that this year with the key focus on “Mahila aur swasthya”, the role of different departments converging to create awareness programmes and take concrete steps to address pertinent issues was vital for the welfare of women and adolescent girls.
Resource person, M.O CHC Chiephobozou, Dr. Akatoli Angto apprised the adolescent girls and women on menstruation, when to see a gynaecologist and the importance of menstrual hygiene.
She also spoke on anaemia, its causes, symptoms and cure.
Dr. Akatoli informed that both male and female suffer from anaemia, however, it was more common in female because of menstrual blood loss, challenges of pregnancy and low food intake.
She added that anaemia was easily controlled and briefed on various food items rich in iron content.
At the camp, the medical team conducted rapid strip-based haemoglobin test where 78 beneficiaries were screened and 44 of them were tested anaemic.
They were provided with IFA tablets and were advised to visit the CHC for review after three months.
Later, sanitary napkins were also distributed to all the participants. A total of 58 adolescent girls from Government Higher Secondary School Chiechama & GHS Nehre Model participated in the programme.